Step back in time on this walking tour of the Temple of Confucius, the Imperial Academy and the Lama Temple as you learn how these sites have helped to shape modern China.

The driver will collect you from the hotel and drive you to these historical attractions to join our English-speaking historian and expert on Beijing histories. They offer an insight into the history of Confucianism and Indo-Tibetan Buddhism. Both play a role in state activities and the country’s ideology in contemporary times.

The Temple of Confucius is a haven of calm and contemplation. Wander through the courtyards and pavilions and marvel at carvings on ancient stone tablets. These act as precious historical records. As you walk through the temple and the Imperial Academy, the knowledgeable guide will explain the history of the buildings and the influence of the philosophies of Confucius.

The Lama Temple is the most revered Tibetan Buddhist temple outside Tibet and is still an active place of worship that is staffed by monks. Hear how the emperors of the Qing Dynasty appropriated forms of Tibetan Buddhism by consecrating a holy space in their capital even as their armies were steadily moving westward across the Tibetan Plateau.

At the end of the tour, the driver will take you back to the hotel.

One of our drivers will collect you from the hotel and take you to the Forbidden City where you will meet your English-speaking historian. While you explore this otherworldly citadel, he will relate the story of the fall of the Ming Dynasty and the Manchu conquest, one of the epic tales of Chinese history. The guide will also examine the differences and continuities between the Ming and the Qing eras. The Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) came to power in a rebellion against the Mongol Khans. The Qing Empire (1636-1912) was founded by the Manchus who originate from a region that is now part of North-East China. In 1644, the Manchus conquered China and moved the capital of their empire to Beijing. Although the Qing Dynasty ended in 1912, the imperial legacy continues to influence China’s present and future.

This walk also considers what life was like for the men and women who lived and worked in the palace. Who built the Forbidden City and why? What did it feel like reporting for duty as an imperial official? Who were the eunuchs who performed much of the necessary daily functions for the palace and its inhabitants? What was life like for a woman in the imperial family?

The walk will take you to some of the more recently opened areas to avoid the crowds, while giving a sense of the diverse architecture of the Forbidden City.

At the end of the tour, the driver will take you back to the hotel.

The driver and guide will collect you from the hotel and take you to the Great Wall at Mutianyu. A 10-minute helicopter ride over this iconic structure will offer a unique perspective and provide exceptional photo opportunities.

The Wall is said to be the only man-made structure that can be seen from high up in the air. A much lower altitude chopper ride will showcase the magnificence of watchtowers and other prominent architectural features. One of the best-preserved parts of the Wall, Mutianyu was built during the Northern Qi Dynasty (550 – 557) and it has undergone many renovations until the 17 h century. An elevated outlook will also reveal the mountains and landscape covered in pine and cypress trees.

At the end of this exhilarating flight, take the cable car to the top of the Wall. From here, a guided hike on the Great Wall at Mutianyu section marks the end of the exploration.

This section is perched high above the ridge making for a spectacular panorama. Celebrate an unforgettable experience with a glass of sparkling champagne.

Lunch in a local restaurant is also included. At the end of the tour, the driver will take you back to the hotel.

The guide and driver will collect you from the hotel in Beijing and take you to the Gubeikou section of the great Wall. Upon arrival, start the trek along a scenic part of this famed fortification passing many of the crumbling watchtowers. Gubeikou is beautifully unrestored and it features moderate gradients, with clearer pathways ensuring ease of access. As you walk, your guide will relate the history and stories of the Great Wall and ancient China.

This part of the wall dates all the way back to the Northern Qi dynasty, but most sections were constructed during the Ming dynasty, between 1368 and 1657. Built as a strategic military strongpoint between Shanhaiguan and Juyongguan passes, this was formerly the only way to cross from Liaodong flatland and Inner Mongolia to the central plains of China. Consequently, it has been at the centre of many furious battles over different eras.

At the end of the tour the driver will take you back to the hotel in Beijing.

The guide will meet you at the hotel and take you to an old courtyard in the hutongs. The age-old building techniques used in the construction of the hutongs is revealed in a fascinating workshop conducted by a master craftsman. Specifically, you will learn how to create a mortise and tenon joint, a wooden connection that consists of two parts. The tenon portion of the joint works as a peg and the mortise is the hole or slot into which the tenon is inserted. This piece of craftsmanship has been used in binding buildings together in the hutongs for centuries.

This is a perfect hands-on and fun activity that involves using tools to create your own example of a tenon and mortise joint. The endeavour involves some instruction into the theory behind this component, followed by the practical session. The aim is to make a perfect connection that slides into place effortlessly. You will leave this excursion with a new-found respect for the craftsmen of old and with a greater awareness of ancient building construction methods.

At the end of the workshop we leisurely walk through the narrow hutongs before the driver will take you back to the hotel.

Together with the guide, set off from the hotel on a gastronomic quest to try culinary favourites from various cultures. Explore the hutongs by tuk-tuk and on foot to find secret eateries that only the locals know about. Visit authentic, off the beaten path restaurants and try specialty dishes with legends larger than the restaurant’s menu.

Sample seafood chowder, kung pao chicken, and beef steak with tomato sauce – dishes that have been served to visiting overseas dignitaries and even an American president. Quench your thirst with cold beers and try a glass of baijiu, a potent spirit made from sorghum and rice. Visit a hidden restaurant, whose name literally means ‘very hard to find’, and slurp Beijing noodles, probably the most famous noodle dish in China.

In another eatery, feast in the style of Mongolian nomads and pile your plate with vegetables and marinated meats that you have grilled yourself. In an authentic Muslim eatery sample ‘dragon empress’, the favourite dish of the controversial Empress Cixi. The grand finale of your culinary extravaganza is several courses of ceremonial food served in a restaurant in one of the oldest courtyards in the hutongs.

End the night rubbing shoulders and drinking craft beer with Beijing’s hipsters in a trendy craft brewery. At the end of the tour, your driver will take you back to the hotel.

Meet your driver and guide at the hotel and set off to the pier at Purple Bamboo Park. Board the boat for the same cruise along the stretch of river taken by the Empress Cixi over a century ago. During the journey to the Summer Palace, take in the sights, both ancient and modern, along the riverbank.

The cruise ends at Kunming Lake, the central lake in the Summer Palace. This man-made reservoir provided water for the city and the irrigation of surrounding fields for 3,500 years. On arrival, disembark from the boat and spend some time exploring the peaceful gardens.

The UNESCO-listed Summer Palace is an imperial garden was used as a summer retreat for Qing dynasty emperors. Built between 1750 and 1764, it is an outstanding masterpiece of Chinese landscape garden design. The natural landscape of hills and open water is skillfully blended with artificial features such as exquisite pavilions, halls, bridges and temples to form a site of outstanding aesthetic value. Dowager Empress Cixi took up permanent residence here for a while, giving rise to some wonderful tales of extravagance and excess. Throughout the tour hear the life, legends and legacy of this fascinating historical figure.

At the end of the tour, the driver and guide will take you back to the hotel.

In the morning, your driver will collect you from the hotel. Then join a group of fellow tea connoisseurs and thirsty friends on a journey to Maliandao Tea Street, an area that is home to some of the best tea wholesalers and tasting opportunities in the whole of China. This ‘tea heaven’ features over 1,000 retailers, restaurants and teahouses spread over eight large malls.

As you enter Maliandao Tea Street, you will be immersed in the strong scent of the fragrant leaves. Start by sampling some light green teas and then move on to try darker and more robust types. There will be time to relax over a delicious North-West Fujian-style lunch.
This is a great place to buy bags of high-quality tea leaves and beautifully decorated Chinese tea sets to take home as souvenirs. The prices are reasonable – but don’t forget to bargain!

This excursion is a relaxing way to learn more about the country’s love affair with this beverage and learn more about its heritage through participation in fascinating discussions. At the end of the tour, the driver will take you back to the hotel.

Together with your knowledgeable guide, explore the hutongs by tuk-tuk and on foot to find secret eateries that only the locals know about. Starting your day with a good breakfast is essential when travelling in Beijing and the hutong alleys are home to many of Beijing’s hidden delicacies.

With at least seven different stops, you’ll get a broad taste of Beijing’s breakfast – from super-traditional to the trendy coffee house scene. Discover the variety of morning staples such as sweet Beijing yogurt and mung bean soup. Visit a local market where you can sample popular street foods such as steamed buns called baozi and Halal beef soup. Try Chinese doughnuts and soybean milk in a tiny shophouse that sells out daily. End the morning in a local coffee shop overlooking iconic hutong-tiled rooftops and revel in one of the most historic areas of the capital.

At the end of the tour, your driver will take you back to the hotel.